After seven books on a single subject, photographer Bart Kuykens returns with a new chapter in his love story: The Essential Love Affair. This art book is a carefully curated anthology of his earlier work series A Flat 6 Love Affair, featuring images that make the bond between man and machine tangible.
The Porsche is not a subject, but a character in this story. Just as Bart approaches his subject with reverence, he chose Buroform to translate that feeling into print. It became a collaboration full of nuance, discussion and obsession with detail. From gold foil to debossing, from black and white printing on Sirio Ultra Black to a measured PMS gold colour on the interior – every aspect contributes to a book that is both rugged and refined.
Kuykens’ images show the intimate relationship between the individual and the car, between man and machine. It’s about the interplay between these two characters. About people who tell their story through their Porsche.
Bart Kuykens: ‘The Essential Love Affair is a “best of” book. The ultimate ode to a subject that has moved me for seven years. For that reason, I wanted something different in terms of printing. I chose Buroform because I wanted something completely different from the previous books, in terms of paper, feel, you name it,’ explains Bart Kuykens.
‘I must admit that I am certainly not the easiest person to work with during such a process, but that interaction has led to a result I am proud of. Creating a book with a team is a process of understanding and trusting each other. It involves discussing, pushing through, compromising and reaching a consensus, with the sole aim of delivering a top-quality product. I think we have succeeded in doing that.’
Object
Art book
Material
Cover: Maco silk 130
Endpapers: Magno Volume White 170 g
Interior: Maco silk 150 g
Interior: Sirio Ultra Black 115 g
Printing
Cover: Recto 1 colour Black + Hotfoil 23BR + Debossing
Interior: Recto/Verso 1 colour black
Interior: Recto/Verso 1 colour PMS 871 (gold)
The Essential Love Affair can be ordered via his website: www.bartkuykens.com.
